Cormyr_ a novel - Ed Greenwood [180]
"A pretty speech," Salember spat. "Did Lady Damia help you? No, young nephew, you have insufficient knowledge of court politics. The courtiers would eat you alive."
"From the looks of things, it is the courtiers who were eaten alive in this castle," Rhigaerd drawled. "Or fled to our camps, or hid themselves until we two could come to agreement."
Lady Damia put in, "We thought, Lord Salember, of recognizing your wisdom with a continued advisory role for you, perhaps a barony or dukedom of the kingdom."
"I should surrender the crown to a child for a handful of crumbs and a smattering of titles?" Salember snarled, the fire coiling like a serpent in his belly.
"I admit your experience would be invaluable in-" Rhigaerd began.
Salember cut him off. "In cleaning up after your mistakes, Nephew? In supporting you as king? In doing all the work and gaining none of the credit?"
"It does not have to be immediate, Uncle," said Rhigaerd calmly. "Three more years of regency, then a smooth changeover."
"No!" Salember shouted. "You will get the crown only when I have no earthly need for it! Surrender to me here and now, young prince. If you truly love this country as you profess, prove it!"
Rhigaerd's eyes blazed with anger. "I do love the Forest Kingdom," he said, voice rising, "and honor my ancestors. Yet, Uncle, you must step down. Can't you hear the sounds of men dying? The sounds of the realm ripping itself apart? We cannot survive with two kings, one rightful and one temporary."
"Agreed!" shouted Salember and turned to Jorunhast. "Kill them, wizard!"
Silence wrapped the four of them like a cloak, the echoes of Salember's orders rebounding from the walls like ripples of water.
Jorunhast looked at the king stonily. "Excuse me?"
"Kill them!" bellowed the king. "Kill them now! This is our best chance to end all of this destructive nonsense- now!"
"Prince Rhigaerd came here on my assurance of personal safety, Sire," the mage said calmly. Rhigaerd moved to stand in front of Lady Damia, and his hand drifted to the hilt of his peace-bonded blade.
Salember's eyes burned with fury, and his own hand now rested on Orblyn. "I am your king, and I demand your obedience! Kill the pair of them! A snake without its head cannot long survive!"
Jorunhast looked at the young noble and pregnant noblewoman on the dais, then back at the king. Salember's face was a mask of rage now, spittle flying as he shouted.
Jorunhast looked at his king and said simply, "No."
Salember's face was as crimson as a red dragon's now, the fire surging through him. "I found Baerauble's records, mage! The elves have forced your kind to serve the crown. You must follow my orders! You must deal with the threat to the crown! Kill them!"
Jorunhast blinked at the raging king and said quietly, "Sainted Baerauble was forced to serve the crown, yes. Amedahast, Thanderahast, and I-we served through choice and through loyalty. Loyalty to the crown, but also to the king and the people and the country itself. Let it end here, Sire. Even Iltharl the Insufficient knew when to step aside…"
Salember was no longer listening, for the fire pounded in his temples and his ears, and in his heart something snapped loose from its moorings and catapulted him to action.
With an incoherent scream the Red Dragon King pulled the blade of King Duar from his belt and charged the pair on the dais.
Jorunhast stepped forward as the king charged and whipped out a massive hand, grabbing Salember's face with widely splayed fingers. The mage barked a few ancient words, and a tomblike carrion smell swirled through the chamber. He let go of his king.
Salember stumbled forward a half-step and fell to the floor, Orblyn skittering away on the flagstones in one direction, Palaghard's gaudy crown in the other. The carrion stench returned again, and this time Salember's tattered scream was borne on the whispering wind.
Rhigaerd bolted down the dais stairs and knelt by the king's